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  Matt has lost me with this question, “Who is the Bratva?” I’ve never heard this word, and it feels strange rolling off my tongue.

  Matt apologizes, “I’m sorry, the Bratva is another name for the Russian Mafia. They usually don’t spend much time in Chicago, but we’ve had to deal with them from time to time.” I open my mouth to respond, but Matt continues his train of thought first, “Their issue with you could be something as small as a scorned lover,” He pauses while I give a scoff. “To as big as a business deal gone bad. Any dealings that you’ve had with the Russians may be able to clue us in.”

  I take a couple minutes to mull over recently declined memberships, as well as any recent changes in vendors for Vice. “I don’t date. So it’s definitely not a scorned lover. I need to review some paperwork at the club, but I can’t think of any declined memberships or business deals that would involve these men in the past year.” I pause to try to come up with a plan to approach this, to be thorough and provide the best possible information for the department, “I’ll review all the documents I have regarding declined Memberships and vendor changes within the next two to three days. If I find anything suspicious or anything Alex deems potentially related, I’ll send it over. I don’t think this is connected to my business though. To be honest, I’m not sure why it’s happening, or what these men see in me.”

  Matt agrees to my plan to review my business documents and get back to him within the next few days. He also tells me that Alex will continue being on protection detail alone, until further notice. He says that he’s working to rearrange some officers to add another to my detail, but he needs a few more days to finalize things.

  He walks us to the elevator and says to call immediately with any updates. He informs us the forensics team will continue searching for evidence as they go through the items brought in from my porch.

  Alex and I say our goodbyes to Matt and walk into the elevator together.

  Chapter 9

  Jenna

  I’m grateful that Alex drove us to the station, so that I have time to think everything over during the trip back to my apartment. The entire ride, I’m lost in my thoughts thinking about what could possibly connect me and the Bratva. Especially in a way that would make them send someone to break into my apartment with a knife, or murder someone in my Club.

  I startle when Alex runs the back of his hand down my arm, until I realize we’re already back at the apartment and the car has stopped. After we climb up the front steps together, I wait for Alex to do his usual walk through the apartment and give the all clear. Once he’s checked the place over, I let Alex know I’m going to go get dressed for work, so we can head down to Vice early and start looking through paperwork. It feels like I need to find a connection to the Bratva, Ian, or Pavel, as soon as possible. My life depends on it.

  I pick a random cocktail dress out of my closet and head into the bathroom to slip it on. I fix up my hair into a high, sleek ponytail and add a few swipes of makeup on my cheeks, eyes, and lips, to finish up my look for the night. Slipping my feet into a pair of stilettos, I leave the bathroom, still lost to my thoughts.

  Right now I feel like I’m fighting to stay afloat. Spending time with Alex has made it easy to forget the events of the past few weeks. After meeting with Matt, it all feels more serious, more real. I feel so far from the post orgasm bliss that I experienced this morning with Alex. The events from this morning already feel like a different lifetime.

  Back in my bedroom, I pick my phone off from my bed when I see the screen is lit with a text message. I open it up to see it’s from Katia: Any updates on Cooper?

  I shoot back a quick message: No he’s about the same. His leg is going to take a while to heal, but he’s in good spirits every time we visit. We just went to see him Tuesday.

  She replies before I even turn the screen for my phone off: Do you want to go grab coffee before work? I feel like we never have girl time anymore!

  Her text makes me feel guilty. I blew her off for shopping last week, after everything happened with Cooper. Alex and I spent quite a bit of time wrapped up in hospital visits to see Cooper. The rest of my days off we spent getting to know each other, hanging out in my apartment. I feel like a bad friend for bailing on Katia as soon as I start to build a relationship with a man. I send her back another message: I actually need to head into work early to review some of Vice’s files with Alex. I could use some extra help though, if you wanted to come in early. We can chat while we work... And I can give you the updates we just got on the case.

  Katia, who has always been a great friend and willing to help whenever I need her to, replies: Okay sounds great, I’ll bring coffee for all three of us!

  When Katia arrives at the club, my office is chaos, with files spread all over the desk and floor, arranged into different piles based on level of importance. She singsongs a hello, right before she hits the open door and I look up in time to see her wide eyed gaze, as she takes in the room. Her eyes flit about prior to focusing on Alex and I sitting amongst the papers strewn about every surface.

  “Did someone break into your office again?” She asks, walking further into the room with the coffee carrier, her eyes now fixed on the ground so that she doesn’t trip while trying to reach us.

  I laugh realizing what this probably looks like, “No, I’ll explain in a minute. Grab a seat and I’ll give you a pile of files to sort through once I’m done explaining.”

  Katia passes out the coffees before grabbing a seat on the couch along the back wall. I tell her about the dead cat left on my porch this morning. Then our visit to the station to talk with Matt about the case.

  Matt is a member of the club, although he rarely visits. Katia knows who he is, although this our first time interacting with him in his professional capacity.

  I also tell her about the fingerprint that was found on my window sill from the attack on Cooper and how they connected it to the Bratva, or the Russian Mafia. Her eyes widen in shock and I continue to tell her that they said the print belonged to an Ian Orlov, who is connected to a powerful mafia boss, named Pavel Zaystev.

  Katia looks as stunned as I felt when Matt was revealing this information to me, so I continue in a light way to try to make her feel better after all the heavy information that I just dropped into her lap. “So now we’re looking through my files to see if Vice has any connection to the mafia through either through our Patrons or our Vendors. If the connection isn’t through Vice it’s probably through one of my scorned lovers.” I shoot her a wink with the last part of the statement.

  Katia lets out a short, tense laugh, “Okay, where can I start to help you out?”

  I pick up a stack near the door and hand the files to Katia, “Can you just make a list of our Vendors that we terminated?” I decide to explain a little more, “We’re going to give a list of people declined memberships and vendors that we no longer use to Matt to check them out and see if they have any connection to the Bratva. The sooner we figure this out, the sooner we find out why this Ian Orlov person is after me.”

  We’ve finished reviewing about three-quarters of the files in the office when the chimes sound, signaling the girls are at the back door, waiting to be let in. I’m moving files from my lap, trying to free myself enough to get out of my chair and to the door.

  Katia is already standing and calls out, “I want to walk with you to the door. I actually had a few things that I wanted to talk to you about.”

  Alex stands as well, offering a different solution, “How about I go let the girls in and you two can chat in here? I‘d feel safer if you two weren’t answering the doors by yourself.”

  Katia glances from him to me and nods her agreeance. I smile and mouth a thank you to Alex and he leaves to go let the girls in, shutting the door behind him.

  Once the door closes, I turn to Katia, “What’s up, girl? Do you have some dirt?” I ask with a grin.

  Katia grimaces. “Unfortunately, no. Nothing exciting ever happens to
me anymore.” She pulls out a huge frown and I laugh. “I just wanted to ask if I can take a few days off starting tomorrow, I have a few appointments that’ve come up and I couldn’t get them scheduled for our normal days off from the Club.”

  “Oh! I exclaim, feeling guilty. Katia hasn’t taken a day off, for vacation or being sick, since she started working at Vice over a year ago. “Is everything okay? This doesn’t have to do with a relapse does it?”

  Katia gives me a lopsided smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s nothing like that, I just have a doctor’s appointment, and a dentist to see. If it was anything big, I would tell you.”

  “Okay, you know you can talk to me about anything at any time. Nothing about my current situation changes that.” Her random request makes me feel nervous, I’ve been a bit preoccupied with everything that’s been going on and I hope Katia really is okay.

  Katia walks over and gives me a tight squeeze. “I tell you everything, J. This is nothing, promise.”

  I hug her back just as tightly.

  She pulls away as she says, “I should head back to the dressing room to meet up with the girls. You know how they get.” She pulls another face, making me chuckle. I do know how the girls get. Katia is good at breaking up the random fights in the dressing room over make up or dresses. The girls can get competitive at times and it can lead to drama if someone isn’t there to help facilitate communication.

  “Thanks Katia. I couldn’t do this without you,” I say to her retreating back, as she leaves the office.

  When Alex returns, I’m sitting alone, trying to finish sorting through the last few stacks of files. Checking to see if any need to be added to the list we’re going to send to the precinct. Alex turns the lock on the door behind him. The noise echoes through the office and makes me look away from the files on my lap to raise an eyebrow at him.

  Alex smirks at me as he swaggers over to my chair and takes the files out of my lap, placing them on my desk. He picks me up and deposits me on a clear spot on the couch, spreading my knees wide to kneel between them. He seals his lips to mine, while running his hands up my legs, starting at my ankles.

  His hands reach the hem of my dress on my upper thighs and he slides underneath the fabric to push it up and fold it over the fabric resting on my belly. He skims his hands back down, caressing the inside of my thighs, while turning his face down to suck and lick on my neck. I whimper when he pulls away from my thighs, as he nears area I ache for his hands. He reaches up and pulls the top of my dress down to join the rest of the fabric gathered around my belly, revealing my breasts.

  Alex gently rolls my nipples between two fingers, before moving his mouth to lick and suck them into his mouth. His hands move back down my body, grazing the sides of my panties lightly. He runs one hand down my slit, still covered by damp cloth. I whimper again and he finally moves the fabric to the side to circle my clit with his fingers. He teases me, lightly rubbing my clit, and sticking the very tip of his finger inside my throbbing pussy.

  I make a small sound of distress when Alex stops lavishing attention on my nipples, but the sound quickly turns into a breathy moan when he replaces the fingers circling my clit with his mouth. He licks and sucks on my clit, gently scraping his teeth against me. I can feel my orgasm building into a powerful wave as he continues running his mouth along my most intimate parts. He thrusts a thick finger inside of me and my orgasm finally crashes over me. I moan loudly, riding his face, and pulsing on his finger. Alex continues to lick and thrust as I come down, extending my pleasure. I open my eyes as he removes his face from between my legs.

  Alex raises himself up to give me a desire filled kiss that tastes like me. I move my hands down the front of his pants, rubbing the outline of the bulge through the fabric. He lets out a low groan at the friction. I pull my face from his to look down, fumbling with the top of his pants. He unbuttons the button for me and I slide the zipper down, pulling his penis over the top of his boxers. I lean forward to lick and suck down his length and he tangles his hands into my hair, thrusting upward into my mouth.

  I remove my mouth from Alex’s cock and pull him into me on the couch. We stare into each other’s eyes as I guide him inside me. He groans against my neck once he’s fully sheathed. Barely waiting ten seconds before taking over. Gripping onto my hips, he thrusts hard and deep, grinding against my g-spot, making me gasp. I grip my hands on his biceps, digging in my nails.

  Alex thrusts a few for times before he moves his hand to cup under my butt, changing the angle. This position makes him thrust even deeper and I feel another orgasm building already. Alex sucks on my neck, then kisses me deeply, as his thrusts become faster and more erratic. He pulls away from our kiss to stick one of his thumbs in his mouth and then moves it down to circle my clit. He circles it twice and my orgasm that was building quickly, washes over me. My muscles lock up as my body throbs in pleasure. Alex thrusts a few more times before his body tenses and he groans.

  He rests his weight against me and gives me a deep, drugging kiss. We lay like that on my couch for a few minutes before he pulls his face back to look at mine. He gives me a warm smile, leaning in again to place a soft kiss on my lips.

  He starts to get up and says, “Let me go get something to clean you up.”

  I’m at the bar in the viewing room, helping to serve drinks. The room is especially packed today, rumors fly through Vice like a high school and someone has been spreading the word that I’m adding a dance with Katia to my nightly duties at the club. The dance on lingerie night only added fuel to the fire. It was my second dance in less than a month, after eleven months of not taking to the stage and many Patrons are hoping for a repeat performance tonight. I’ve been asked at least fifteen times when my time on stage is.

  Despite the rumors and all the questions about what time my dance is, the night is passing quickly. Most of the rooms run like a well-oiled machine at this point, and the viewing room is no exception. I’m about to grab my full tray from the bar, for the next round of drink deliveries, when I hear a scuffle in the hall outside. I can hear the distinct baritone of Jackson, one of my security guards, but there’s also another voice that I don’t recognize.

  I leave the tray on the bar and ask another Escort to stop by my tables to deliver my drinks for me. I head out into the hallway and follow the sounds of Jackson and the other man to the front of the club. After turning a corner, I can see Jackson ahead, holding onto the arm of a short, brawny man, with a shaved head. Once they pass through the Foyer in front of me, he shoves the man outside.

  I rush into the Foyer to talk with Jackson and ask about the man thrown outside. Alex is trailing behind me like a shadow. Jackson turns as I ask, “What happened?”

  Jackson gives a small shrug. “Jenna, I had to throw him out, I’m sorry.” He explains looking apologetic, knowing it’s not good for business to drag Patrons through the bar and throw them out on the street. “He went after one of the Escorts, grabbed her throat and threw her against the wall.”

  I gasp in shock, glancing from Jackson to Alex, then back again, “Who is he? I’ve never seen him before!”

  Jackson shrugs, “He says he was checked in as a guest with a Patron, but none of the Patrons in the room admitted to bringing him with them. I’m not sure how he got in here but I told him not to come back.”

  I walk over to the door and open it, looking both ways to see if the man is still visible on the street outside the Club. I want to ask him more questions about how he got inside and what he was doing to my Escort. He must be a fast walker though, he’s no longer in sight outside. I turn back to Jackson, “Did you tell me who was attacked?”

  Jackson shakes his head no, while responding, “It was Sira.”

  We part ways after I thank Jackson and ask him to update me if he sees the man again.

  It isn’t until I’m back at the bar in the Viewing room that I have two concerning thoughts. The first is that from behind, Sira and I look very similar. We’r
e around the same build, and it’s difficult to tell height when we all wear our heels. More importantly, we both have long dark hair that cascades down our back. The second thought of concern is that Sira was also the one that found the body in the Club.

  Chapter 10

  Jenna

  I stand in the shower letting the water sluice down my body, washing away the stress of the day. I’m exhausted, ready for this all to be over. These random incidents are starting to make me feel paranoid at every turn.

  I’m also tired of fighting my attraction to Alex. I feel like he’s going to end up breaking my heart, but I’m beginning to think he’s worth it to try to make things work. I never imagined I would be attracted to a cop. I also never thought that I would find any law enforcement professional that would respect me despite my choice of business and profession.

  Alex is unexpected in almost every way. He’s a little reserved although not with his affection, and once you get him to open up verbally, he’s very intelligent and warm. He’s also thoughtful and kind. His incredibly attractive exterior covers an equally attractive interior. I don’t understand how or why Alex is single.

  I blush thinking back to my office yesterday evening at the club, he is also an excellent lover. He’s the least selfish person that I’ve been with, so to speak.

  A knock sounds on the bathroom door interrupting my thoughts. “I’ll be out soon! Sorry,” I yell back in response, thinking Alex is probably waiting to take a shower.

  The door cracks open and I can see through the steam covered glass that Alex barely pops his head in. “Hey, are you okay? You’ve been in there a while.”

  I turn off the water and crack the shower door a bit, sticking my arm out and searching out a towel. Suddenly, the door to the shower is yanked open and Alex is standing there with hooded eyes holding my towel out between both hands. I look up at him and step forward.